Fire, passion, blood
Fulham players lack these qualities in Oldham loss, says Ranieri
It’s the first time I’ve beaten a Premier League club as a manager so it’s one I’ll never forget. Michael Flynn
LONDON: Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri accused his players of lacking passion as the Premier League side were dumped out of the FA Cup by fourth-tier Oldham Athletic at Craven Cottage.
Ranieri made six changes to the team who lost 4-1 to Arsenal in their last Premier League game, but what he had hoped would be an invitation for squad players to further their causes, backfired with a 2-1 defeat.
The result was all the more surprising as Denis Odoi had given Ranieri’s side the lead.
But Sam Surridge levelled from the spot and Callum Lang headed Oldham’s late winner.
“I wanted to see the players not involved frequently,” Ranieri, whose side are in the Premier League relegation zone, told reporters. “I didn’t see the desire, I didn’t see the passion of the Oldham players.
“We need the fire, the passion, the blood. We need everything. We need everything if we want to be safe. That is the real problem. I know a lot of players new to play together and it makes it more difficult for them, but the desire to do something is important.
“I gave a chance to them to show if I am right or wrong, to see if I am right to choose other players – I am right.”
Things could have been different if Aleksandar Mitrovic had scored from the penalty spot shortly before Lang’s winner.
The Serbian substitute’s first touch of the ball was the spot-kick which was turned away by Oldham keeper Daniel Iversen.
Ranieri defended the decision for Mitrovic to take the kick.
“It was just the moment. I wanted to change,” Ranieri said.
“I said to him to shoot the penalty because he’s our man to shoot the penalty.”
Oldham caretaker manager Pete Wild, who has been in charge for less than a fortnight since Frankie Bunn’s exit, paid tribute to his side who bridged a 59-place gap in the English football pyramid to claim a shock win.
“It is Roy of the Rovers stuff,” said Wild, who had been working with the club’s academy manager before being elevated to firstteam duties, told reporters.
“It is a remarkable transformation, but one I am going to savour, you have to savour these moments in life. I am the most proud man in Oldham, I can’t believe it.
“In the last 10 days things have changed dramatically for me. My first Oldham game was 28 years ago (as a fan), on New Year’s Day. Now I’m the manager.”
Meanwhile, fourth-tier Newport County beat Premier League high-flyers Leicester 2-1 to record a memorable upset win in the third round of the English FA Cup.
Premier League champions Manchester City thrashed Rotherham 7-0, with Watford beating non-league Woking 2-0.
But Barnet ensured there would be a nonleague presence in the fourth round with a 1-0 win away to second-tier Championship club Sheffield United.
It had seemed visitors Leicester, seventh in the Premier League and top-flight champions in 2016, would leave Rodney Parade with a draw when Rachid Ghezzal’s shot eight minutes from time cancelled out Jamille Matt’s 10th-minute header.
But, with five minutes left, Newport were awarded a penalty after Leicester’s Marc Albrighton inexplicably raised his arm to block a cross into the box and Padraig Amond made no mistake from the spot to spark delirious scenes among the Welsh club’s supporters.
“It’s the first time I’ve beaten a Premier League club as a manager so it’s one I’ll never forget,” Newport boss Michael Flynn told the BBC.
“It’s unbelievable,” he added after Newport’s first FA Cup win against a top-tier club since they beat Sheffield Wednesday in the third round back in the 1963/64 season.
Leicester manager Claude Puel praised Newport by saying: “They believed in themselves and created the upset.”
The Frenchman added: “I think we had an experienced team to manage this game. We had eight players who won the title.”
Elsewhere, Barnet beat Championship high-flyers Sheffield United thanks to Shaquile Coulthirst’s 21st-minute penalty.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Barnet captain Callum Reynolds after the north London club’s triumph.
Watford manager Javi Gracia changed his entire starting side from the team that drew 3-3 at Bournemouth.
But hopes of Woking, 110 places adrift of the Hornets, enjoying a shock win were dented by Will Hughes’s 13th-minute curled shot from the edge of the area.
Watford doubled their lead 16 minutes from time through Troy Deeney.
Millwall came from a goal down to beat Championship rivals Hull 2-1, substitute Shane Ferguson scoring twice inside the closing eight minutes, with QPR also winning 2-1 against second-tier leaders Leeds. — AFP